Means for the electrical propulsion of boats



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) 7

R. M. HUNTER. MEANS POR'THE ELECTRICAL PROPULSION OF BOATS. No. 403,193. Patented May 14, 1889.

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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSl1eet 2.

R. M. HUNTER.

MEANS FOR THE ELECTRICAL PROPULSION OP BOATS.

No. 403,193. Patented May 14, 18 89..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR THE ELECTRICAL PROPULSION OF BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,193, dated May 14, 1889. Application filed December 26, 1888. Serial No. 294,587. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Electrical Propulsion of Boats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to electrical propulsion of boats; and it consists of certain improvements fully set forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

In carrying out my invention I provide the boat with an electric motor to operate the propeller, of whatever nature it may be, and arrange in the line of the travel of the boat, or in a line substantially parallel to it, a supplycondnctor for conveying current to the motor on the boat, the electrical connection between the conductor and motor being through a traveling connection. The current, after leaving the motor, may be conveyed back to the supply-station in substantially the same manner, or by employing the ground as a return. In this latter case, I prefer to employ a metallic circuit, which shall normally lie upon the bottom of the canal or river, and through the moist earth or mud make a good ground-connection. Furthermore, where the bottom should in places be rock, the metallic circuit would insure the continuity of the return-circuit. This return. grourid-conductor is designed to travel over a collectingwheel. on the boat above or below the water-level and in circuit with the motor. The friction of the cable or conductor on the bottom of the canal or river will prevent its creeping or working longitudinally, and from the nature of the return-cireuit the metallic conductor maybe of small sectional. area, as it has in any case only to convey the current of. the motor a short distance to the ground.

Propulsion by the employment of cl eetricity by line-conductors is well adapted to canalboats and ferries, and for many marine operations, where the operation of the boat is automatic, such as would be adopted for dredging and dumping operations.

The minor details of construction may be made in many ways to suit the ideas of: the engineer; hence I do not limit myself to such structure as shown.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side ele"ation illustrating my invention applied to canal-boat propulsion. Fig. 2 is a plan view of same. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of same on line it at. Fi at is a similar view. to Fig. 1, and shows another way of carrying my invention into use. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the base of the collector shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. (3 is a sectional elevation of a canal, showing how the generator is operated by the difference in level of the water therein.

The constructions of the various figures, while showing two specific ways of carrying my invention into practice, are dependent for their operation upon the same general principles, and are deemed to come within the general invention, considered generically.

A is the boat, which may be of any construction.

B is the canal or river, and b is its bottom.

C is the canal or river bank.

D are eonductor-supporting posts arranged upon said bank, and E and F are respectively the positive and negative line-conductor, receiving the electric current from a central station, G, situated at any suitable place along the canal or river or within operative distance from it.

In the case of Figs. 1, 2, and I} the conduct-- ors E and F are supported upon the posts D, and are arr: nged parallel, whereas in Fig. 4c the positive conductor-E is supported by posts in any suitable manner directly or by crosswircs, and the return or negative conductor lies upon the bottom Z) of the canal or river, as shown, except where it is lifted by the collecting-wheel M on the boat, which wheel may be above or below the water-level and on any part of the boat.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, we have the boat provided with an electric motor, Q, coupled in any suit able manner with the propeller R, or means for moving the boat and receiving current from the conductors E and F through the collector H. The propeller for the boat may be any of those now known, such as screw or paddle-wheel. This collector is shown as formed of three jointed parts, of which the part I is hinged to the boat on a vertical axis or loose joint at i, and to the free end of which part I is hinged the second part, J. The part I is snlilstantially in. line with. the travel of 'under side of the conductor.

'ing boats to pass.

to the central station.

the boat; but its end may move laterally, and the part J is directed at right angles to the travel of the boat, or thereabout, and carries the positive collecting-wheel K on or near its free end, which rests upon the conductor F. The arm J is prevented'from swinging backward by a tie rope or rod, N, connecting its free end with the forward part of the'boat. Hinged upon the end of this arm J on a longitudinal axis is a second arm, L, carrying the other collecting-wheel, M, which runs upon the negative conductor E. The wheel M should be free to move laterally upon its journal, so as to compensate for inequalities in the distance between the conductors E and F. These collector-wheels are insulated from each other and supply current to the motorcircuit P on the boat, including a regulator, p, and motor. Q. By this construction the weight of the collector insures good electrical contact with the conductors, and is free at all times to be removed from the conductors to enable two boats to pass each other while moving in the same direction.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 the positive conductor E is suspended above the level of the boat, and an upwardly-extending collector is carried by the boat and has at its free end a contactfroller, preferably grooved in its periphery and adapted to run against the This arm H is preferably hinged to the boat on a universal joint, h, and held upward by a spring, h. By

making its hinge have both a vertical and transverse axis the free end of the collector may move in any direction to follow the conductor and compensate for any variations in the line of travel of the boat relatively to the conductor. By locating the collector device at or near the stern of the boat it is enabled to remain in contact with the conductor for very large and sudden movements of the bow. It is also where it is best protected in case of collisions, and also is close to the pilot and engineer or person in charge of the motor in case of requiring any attention, such as displacement or in allow- The motor-circuit P connects at one end to this collector and at the other end to the loose collector-wheel M, preferably upon the outside of the boat and, as desired, at any level. The motor Q and regulator 19 are included in the motor-circuit. The return or negative circuit is in the form of the conductor F, of copper or other suitable metal-such as phosphor-bronze which normally lies upon the bottom I) of the canal or river, making a good ground-contact, and thus a combined ground and metallic return This conductor F passes over the collector-wheel M as the boat is propelled, and as the wheel moves along it lifts the conductor F and then pays it out again, so as not to displace it longitudinally with reference to the conductor E.

Referring to Fig. 6, We have the lock S,

such as is customary for transferring boats from one level to another. T is a turbine or other suitable water motor, and is connected by a conduit or pipe, t, with the upper part, B, of the canal and discharges into the lower part, B, of the canal, the difference in head of water acting to operate the turbine or water motor. The turbine shaft operates by gearing U a large band-wheeLVV, which drives the dynamo-electric machine or generator G by a belt, X. Any other form of power-transmitting mechanism may be used. E and F are the line-conductors extending along the canal, and may extend along the part B as well as that of B.

It is evident that various forms of collectors may be employed; but it is essential to a practical operation that the connection between the boat and the conductors shall be such as will admit of irregular travel of the boat with a maintenance of the electrical contact with the conductors.

The construction shown in Fig. 4 would be best suited to ferry purposes, as in that case conductor E would be supported by the collector on the boat.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A canal having two portions thereof at difierent levels and a lock for transferring boats from one level to the other, in combination with a water-power motor operated by the dilference in level of the water of the canal, an electric generator operated by the water-power motor, a line-conductor arranged along the canal, or substantially parallel thereto, receiving electric current from said electric generator, an electrically-propelled boat, and a collector carried by the boat and making a traveling contact with the line-conductor.

2. A canal having two portions thereof at different levels and a lock for transferring boats from one level to the other, in combinationwith a water-power motor operated by the difierencein level of the Water of the canal, an electric generator operated by the water-power motor, a line-conductor arranged along the canal, or substantially parallel thereto, receiving electric current from said electric generator, an electrically-propelled boat, a collector carried by the boat and making a traveling contact with the lin e-conductor, and i a regulator on the boat for controlling the current passing to the motor thereon to govern the speed of the boat.

3. A canal having two portions thereof at diiferent levels and a lock for transferring boats from one level to the other, in combinathe canal, or substantially parallel thereto, receiving electric current from said electric generator, an electrically-prepelled boat, and a collector carried by the boat and making a traveling contact with the line-conductors.

l. The combination of a canal or waterway having diit'erent water-levels, locks for transferring boats from one level to another, electric conductors arranged along the canal or water-way, an electrically-propelled boat, and a detachable current-collecting device connected to the boat for making a detachable electrical connection between the electric conductor and motor on the boat.

5. The combination of a canal or waterway, a line supply-conductor insulated from the earth, arranged along or over the waterway, a return-conductor normally connected with the ground, an electrically-propelled boat, and current-collecting devices carried or moved with the boat for making tray'eling contact with the supply and return conductors and supplying electric current to the motor on the boat.

6. The combination of a canal or waterway, a line supply-conductor insulated from the earth, arranged along or over the waterway, a return-conductor normally connected with the ground and lying upon the bottom of the water-way, an electrically-propelled boat, and currentcollecting devices carried or moved with the boat for making traveling contact with the supply and return conductors and supplying electric current to the motor on the boat.

7. The combination of a canal or waterway, a line supply-conductor insulated from the earth, arranged along or over the waterway, a return-conductor normally connected with the ground and lying upon the bottom of the water-way, an electrically-propelled boat, and current-collecting devices carried or moved with the boat for making traveling contact with the supply and return conductors and supplying electric current to the motor on the boat, the said collecting devices consisting of wheels running in. contact with the conductors.

S. The combination of a water-way, a lineconductor arranged parallel to the waterway and insulated from the ground, a lineconductor arranged to lie normally in electrical contact with the bottom of the waterway, and an electric generator for supplying electricity of different polarities to said conductors.

9. The combination of an electric conductor normally resting upon the bottom of a waterway with an electrically-propelled boat and a current-collecting device 0011- nected to the boat for making a traveling contact with said conductor, and means for supplying current to the motor on the boat 10. The combination of an electric conductor normally resting upon the bottom of a water-way with an electricallyqncpelled boat and a current-collecting device connected to the boat for making a traveling contact with said conductor, consisting of a contact-wheel which travels under the conductor, and means for supplying current to the motor on the boat.

11. The combination of a water-way and a line-conductor insulated from the ground and in the line of travel of the boat with a boat having a propeller acting on the water, an electric motor to rotate said propeller to propel said boat, and a current-collecting device connected to the boat and making a traveling contact with the conductor for supplying electricity to the motor.

12. The combination of a water-way and a line-conductor insulated from the ground and in the line of travel of the boat with a boat having a propeller acting 011 the water, an electric motor to rotate said propeller to propel said boat, and a flexible current-collecting device connected to the boat and making a traveling contact with the conductor forsup plying electricity to the motor and allowing of irregular movements in the line of travel of the boat.

13. The combination of a water-way and a line-conductor insulated from the ground and in the line of travel of the boat with a boat having a propeller acting on the water, an electric motor to rotate said propeller to propel said boat, and a jointed current-collecting device connected to the boat and having a vertically-arranged grooved current-collecting wheel making a traveling contact with the conductors for supplying electricity to the motor.

let. The combination of a water-way and a line-conductor insulated from the ground and in the line of travel of the boat with a boat having a propeller acting on the water, an electric motor to rotate said propeller to propel said heat, and a flexible current-collecting device connected to the boat and supported at its free end by the conductor, and making a traveling contact with the conductor for supplying electricity to the motor.

15. The combination of a line-conductor, an eleetrically-propelled boat having a propeller acting on the water, an electric motor to retate said propeller, and a current-collecting device between the boat and conductor, consisting of an arm extending substantially horizontally from the boat, and having a contact device consisting of a vertically-arranged current-colle'ct ng wheel, which rests against the horizontal surface of the conductor to collect current and supply it to the motor.

16. The combination of a line-conductor, an electrically-propelled boat having a propeller acting on the water, an electric motor to rotate said propeller, and a current-collecting device between the boat and conductor, consisting of an arm extending substantially horizontally from and movably connected with the boat, and having a vertical grooved wheel IOO contact device, which rests against the horizontal surface of the conductor to collect current and supply it to the motor.

17. The combination of a line-conductor, an electrically-propelled boat, and a current-collecting device between the boat and conductor, consisting of an arm extending laterally and substantially horizontally from the boat, having a contact device, which rests against the conductor, and a second arm hinged to the first-mentioned arm at one end and to the boat at the other end.

18. The combination of a line-conductor, an electrically-propelled boat, a current-collecting device between the boat and conductor, consisting of an arm extending laterally and substantially horizontally from the boat, and having a contact device which rests against the conductor, a second arm hinged to the first-mentioned arm at one end and to the boat at the other end, and a tie connecting the lateral arm with the boat.

19. The combination of a water-way, a lineconductor arranged in line with the path of travel of a boat, having a propeller acting upon the Water and driven by an electric motor on said water-way, an electrically-propelled boat, and a flexible current-collecting device between the conductor and boat, which, While maintaining an electrical connection, shall permit the free lateral movement of the boat with respect to the line-conductor to compensate for irregularities in the boats travel.

20. A water-way, in combination with an electrically-propelled boat having a propeller acting upon the water and driven by an electric motor, a supporting-wheel on the boat, a line-conductor arranged in the path of travel of said boat and supported by said wheel, an electrical connection between said wheel and motor, a regulating device to control the speed of the motor, and an electric'generator to supply electricity to said line-conductor.

21. The combination of a Water-Way, alineconductor, a traveling electrically-propelled boat having a propeller acting upon the Water and driven by an electric motor, and a current-collecting device between the line-conductor and boat and connected to the boat at or close to its rear or stern part.

22. The combination of a water-way, two line-conductors insulated from each other, an electric generator, an electrically-propelled boat having a propeller acting upon the water and driven by an electric motor, and currentcollecting devices for contact with the two conductors carried with the boat.

23. The combination of a water-way, two line-conductors insulated from each other, an electric generator, an electrically-propelled boat having a propeller acting upon the water and driven by an electric motor, and currentcollecting devices for contact with the two conductors carried with the boat, and having independent contact parts.

In testimony of which invention 1 hereunto set my hand.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER.

, WVitnesses:

ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, E. M BRECKINREED. 

